A 15-year-old secondary school student from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Ayodele Angel Oluwafisayomi, has emerged winner of the 2026 StarGirl Playwriting Prize, earning national attention for her budding talent and a compelling story promoting gender equality in science.
Angel, an SS3 student of Divine Touch International School, Ado-Ekiti, clinched the prize with her play, Before You Say No, which explores the challenges confronting young girls who aspire to pursue careers in science and innovation.
The play tells the story of Bose, a brilliant and determined 15-year-old girl whose passion for science and invention is challenged by her father’s belief that science is unsuitable for girls.
With encouragement from her brother, Tola, and her teacher, Mrs Adebayo, Bose prepares for a science fair to prove that curiosity, courage and passion—not gender—should determine who ventures into science.
Angel’s victory underscores the growing potential of young Nigerian girls to use creative writing and the performing arts to challenge stereotypes, inspire social change and contribute to national conversations on equal opportunities for all.
The StarGirl Playwriting Prize is a community service initiative established to discover, nurture and celebrate young female creative talents across Nigeria. It was founded by Dr Tosin Kooshima Tume, an award-winning playwright, scholar, choreographer, director and gender specialist.
Dr Tume is an associate professor in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts and director of the Centre for Gender Studies at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).
Speaking on the process that produced the 2026 winner, Tume said the competition began in July with a call for submissions, which initially required aspiring playwrights to submit storylines rather than complete plays.
According to her, 14 entries were received and assessed, with five finalists subsequently selected for a three-day writing residency held at The Farm, Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti, from September 2 to 4, 2026.
She said the residency provided the finalists with intensive training in playwriting, as well as the opportunity to develop their initial storylines into full-length plays under the guidance of experienced facilitators and mentors.
“The three-day power-packed residency was facilitated by Miss Ann Adedeji, Mr Emmanuel Kalu, Mr Terhemba Tume, and me,” she said.
Tume explained that participants received instruction on the rudiments of playwriting, developed their manuscripts and benefited from critical feedback before submitting their final drafts for assessment.
She also expressed gratitude to Senator Babafemi Ojudu for making The Farm available for the residency.
For Angel, the experience offered more than an opportunity to win a literary prize; it provided a platform to sharpen her writing skills, build confidence and discover the power of storytelling.
Expressing her appreciation to the organisers, the teenage playwright said: “I appreciate the StarGirl Playwriting Team for helping young girls like me to find our voices and learn the basic elements of a play. This is an experience I would like to relive over and over again.”
Angel’s achievement highlights the importance of creating platforms that identify and nurture young talents, particularly girls whose creative voices can help shape conversations around education, gender inclusion and the future of Nigerian society.
Through Before You Say No, the young Ekiti writer delivers a message that extends beyond the stage: a child’s potential should never be limited by gender stereotypes, and every girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her dreams.
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